Letters to the Editor: 02.13.06

This is the second letter that I have written about the mail
service. We have been getting mail from three to four days behind. A
mailman comes in the morning and drops off the mail from four days
back. In the afternoon, around 5:30, the other mailman comes around
brings the mail from three days behind. What is going on?

Seems that the stamps are going up so they can get raises, but the
service is going down. A mailman came by to deliver my mail, but did
not pick up my outgoing mail. I had to chase him three houses down to
give it to him, and I asked him how come he did not take my mail. His
reply was to take it to the drop-off box at the post office. What is
the world coming to?

I have seen letters on the ground that are going someplace,
outgoing, that were dropped by the mailman. I have taken them to the
drop box.

A letter to Missouri takes three days, a letter from there to here
takes 12 days. What is the problem?

I hope that you can get this letter in two days, since it is within
the city, unless it takes 12 days to get to you.

Eddie Chavez

No Ferris wheel

The last thing I would like to see on our bayfront is a carnival
with a Ferris wheel.

Also, the last thing I would like to see is the demolishing of the
Coliseum. This is a good, sturdy structure that has served many
purposes in the past and could offer to serve many purposes in the
future.

Mention has been made of the skatepark. This could be located in the
Coliseum to keep the skating activities out of the heat and other bad
weather. There would be plenty of room for other recreational
activities.

Mention has also been made of using the building for miscellaneous
retail stores and restaurants. This would be of much more interest to
local and visiting people alike.

In the past, the Coliseum was used very efficiently for all of the
graduation events for most of the schools in the area.

These are just a few of the things for which the Coliseum could be
used without the much greater expense of building new structures to
house these things.

Besides, I think the Coliseum is a much more attractive sight on the
waterfront than anything else that could be built there, and parking
for whatever takes place there already exists and is plentiful.

Louis H. Rehmus

Study, then vote

With all the campaign signs springing up all over town, it must mean
an election is coming up.

So far, we have heard no promises of doing magic in the elected
position or any mud-slinging. Let us hope we have a civil debate.

With so many folks throwing their hats in the ring it will take a
little more time, but do look each candidate over well and then vote
accordingly. Do not throw one of your great rights away.

When the mud-slinging starts, and you know it will, I want you to
remember this old Czech proverb: "An empty barrel sounds the
loudest."

Thanks for voting.

Jerry Elzner

Running red

When I read Brooks Peterson's comments about the horrifying number
of red-light runners in Corpus Christi, I wondered if people understood
the history behind this problem ("Streets of Corpitos are full of
mysteries," Jan. 23).

A few years ago, traffic engineers took advantage of improved
technology and incorporated an "all red" phase into the traffic signal
programs. Usually this was a one or two-second phase which was intended
to protect cross traffic from yellow-light runners. This worked well
until engineers increased the all-red phase to three or more
seconds.

The one- or two-second phase was so brief that most drivers did not
realize it was there.

But the three-plus-seconds all-red phase was easy to detect. So
people who used to run the yellow light from halfway down the block
started running the red light from halfway down the block.

When children see adults, supposed leaders of the community,
violating traffic laws without any concern for their responsibility to
the community, how can we expect anything different from the
children?

This is not only a Corpus Christi problem. It is general practice
throughout the nation.

Little things do count. Children do follow the example of adults.
And if adults do not start setting better examples of moral behavior
for our children, the nation will be going to hell in a
hand-basket.

Lee Hudson

Great debt

I always try to find time to read the Letters column. I was reading
the Jan. 31 letter from Benito P. Barrera, and I wholeheartedly agree
with his letter. Too often we forget that we owe a lot to our
educators.

I had the privilege of attending Southgate Elementary School when
Mr. Barrera was a sixth-grade teacher. He was the person I most recall
who made a big change in my life.

He was not only a great instructor, but he also found time in his
schedule to be a great Scoutmaster. I was blessed to have known and to
be taught by him.

We have to remember that the children our educators teach are the
future of our great country.

Thank you, Mr. Barrera, from one of your former students

Ramiro M. Morgan

(6th grade class of 1956)

Rush to lunch

In regard to the cartoon "Non Sequitur" in the Jan. 27 Comics
section, I can relate to the phrase, "Been there, done that."

The Jim Wells County auto license and registration office is a
classic example of the way the public is treated by some public service
employees.

I recall on one occasion a gentleman was in line in the office and
he had some sort of title transfer or something to that effect. The
clerk told him he would have to come back after lunch, as the paperwork
could not be finished before noon.

The office is closed from 12 to 1 p.m. The time was approximately
11:45. The gentleman was obviously upset, stating he took off early
from his job to conduct the transfer process. Needless to say, his
complaint fell on deaf ears. Luckily, all my business pertained to new
license plate stickers, which took only a few minutes.

Sure enough, at noon, the fire siren across the street went off, and
all one could hear was the service windows and doors slamming shut and
people running to the exits. I have witnessed fire drills less
organized. I caution anyone not to be standing in the doorways at 12
noon at the Jim Wells County Court House!

Surely the personnel could stagger their lunch hours to help us poor
slobs who have to conduct business during our lunch breaks.

Robert Epperson

(Premont)

Bike found

I'm never at a loss for words, but this time I am. I had recently
written a letter stating how very special my bicycle is to me. Then one
day someone went into my garage and stole it. I was heartbroken, as
that is my way of keeping my sanity.

But last week, I received a phone call. The men at Bay Area Bicycles
had recognized my bike. A man had brought it in to be repaired and they
knew it was mine.

I was overwhelmed with emotion. I am not sure whether it was the
return of the bicycle or the personal customer relations I felt.

When one sells something, the person normally goes on and nothing is
ever thought of again. For those men to remember me and help me
retrieve my bicycle, I am ever so grateful. I want everyone in Corpus
Christi to know what a great bunch of people there are out there.

Christy Garrett

Focus on city

Thank you, John Boyd. In case you missed his letter, ("First, fix
streets," Feb. 4), he said: Fix what's wrong with Corpus Christi, then
if there's any money left, spend it on something beneficial.

Instead of a week of 8-by-10 color pictures of other cities'
boardwalks, beaches and condos, how about some of our streets, crack
houses, weeds growing in salvage yards, vacant lots, and sidewalks,
brush and garbage piled up for weeks waiting for pick-up, and traffic
backed up all along the freeway?

The Caller-Times needs to deal with this today - not tomorrow. The
City Council needs to listen to the voters, and they already said "no"
to any kind of Ferris wheel development.

If the council doesn't get the picture, maybe we should send them
some.

Erna Newcomb

Fear not

When I read the letters praising Bush for his war in Iraq, I
conclude these people are scared. Which tells me that Bush, with the
advice of Dick Cheney, has been successful in instilling fear in
Americans to further his blood bath in Iraq.

I hear the praisers say, just you wait, the terrorists will strike
again. Our continued bloody involvement in Iraq has caused Iran to
desire making nukes that threaten all mankind. The sooner our
government wakes up to the fact that the longer we spill blood in Iraq,
the greater the threat of terrorism will be, will result in terrorism
(just like murder) being contained but not stopped.

It's foolish for Bush to think otherwise. After two years of blood
and gore, there is no such thing as a safe street for an American to
walk on in Iraq. It's shameful and cowardly. Fear should be instilled
in the enemy, not Americans.